Refrigeration



Aug. 7, 1928. r 1,679,439 C. G. MUNTERS REFRIGERATION Filed lay 7. 1926IN VEN TOR,

k7 44,4 TTORNEY Patented Aug. 7, 1 928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL GEORG HUNTERS, OF STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, ASSIGNOR 'IiO ELEO'IROLUXSERVED CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

REFRIGERATION.

Application filed Kay 7, 1926, Serial No.

My invention relates to refrigerating apparatus of the absorption typeand more particularly to refrigerating apparatus havmg a constant totalor gage pressure throu hout, in which refrigeration is obtaine byevaporation due to diffusion of a cooling agent into another substance.

The invention has for objects, amongst others, to provide an im rovedcirculatlon 1 between the absorber an generator in refrigeratingapparatus of the absorption type; to provide a continuously and evenlyoperatin circulating arrangement with highly e cient circulation; and toobtain an improved thermodynamic efliciency .of the completerefrigerating process.

A characterlstic feature of the invention is the introduction of anauxiliary fluid into the path of flow of the absorption liquid in localcirculation between the absorber and the generator, which fluidvolatilizes at a temperature which is lower than the temperature atwhich the cooling agent is expelled from the absorption liquid. Thisauxiliary fluid'is caused to flow in a circulatory path which ispreferably local as respects complete refrigfratin organization.

The invention will e rea ily understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawin w in which: Fig. 1 shows one embodiment o the invention appliedto a ty e of refrigerating apparatus wherein an lnert equalizin as isused and wherein the auxiliary flui is caused to condense; Fig. 2 showsan arrangement wherein the auxilia gas is absorbed in the absorptionliquid t or the cooling agent; and Fig. 3 shows a modified form of theapparatus of Fig. 2.

Referrin more particularly to Fig. 1,

reference 0 iaracter 10 designates a generator which contains absorptionliquid and wherein the cooling agent, for example, ammonia,

is abstracted by heat from solution in the absorption liquid, which maybe, for example, water, the su ply of heat consisting,

in the embodiment s own, of an electric element 11 which is arrangedwithin a pocket 12 set into the metal shell of the generator.

Vapor generated in enerator 10 passes so through conduit 13 am? intocondenser 14 which comprises a conduit in which the va- 107,376, and inGermany March 9, 1926 porhis condensed by means of a cooling fluid suejacket 15 surrounding the same. rom condenser 14 the cooling agent inthe form of liquid passes into the evaporator 16 where it mixes with anauxiliary agent, which ma be, for example, hydrogen, into which it difuses and, as a result, evaporates, thus producing refrigeration.Ammonia gas and hydrogen then pass downwardly through the evaporator asa mixture and through conduit 17 into the. lower part. of absorber 18.In the absorber the ammonia gas is separated from the hydrogen and assesinto so ution in absorption liquid supp ied to the absorber from thegenerator by way of conduit 19. The hydrogen thus freed passes upwardly)in the absorber and through conduit 20 ack into the evaporator to againmix with ammonia coming from the condenser.

The resent inve tion is not specifically directe to the gener larrangement thus far described, and this arrangement is herein set outfor the purpose of illustration. For a further and more detaileddescription of the operation of the parts hereinbefore described,reference may be had to application Serial No. 596,646 filed October 24,1922, b Baltzar Carl von Platen and myself which has resulted in PatentNo. 1,609,334 granted December 7, 1926. The arrangement thus fardescribed and as set out in the application is not the only arrangementapplicable to use-with the present invention as will be understood uponfurther description.

, Strong absorption liquid passes thro h conduit 21 from the lower partof the a sorber to the upper part of generator 10. Conduit 21 is in partcomposed of a coil as water circulating throu h cooling 1 22 whichsurrounds pocket 12 and electric heating element 11 and which isintensely heated by element 11. This conduit is connected with a vessel23 which may be termed a gas separation vessel. Vessel 23 is situated sothat a liquid level may be maintained in the same at the same height asthe liquid level in the generator. Conduit 21 opens into the upper partof vessel 23. The lower part of vessel 23 is connected to the generatorby means of conduit 24. A coniii . sibly more;

duit is vessel connected to the upper part of ml is also connected toconduit between the absorber and coil cenduit 26 is in art formed as accaicnssr, this condenser ing shown as cooled by air through theintermediary of cooling fins 27. Thus there is formed a circulating sstem including conduit 26, parts of con uit 21, coil 22 and the upperpart of gas separation vessel 23. This circulating s stem contains afluid, the circulation 0 which is confined to this system and istherefore local in nature. This local circulating system contains agenerator, consistin of coil 22, in which this auxiliary fluid 1Svaporized; a separator, consisting of gas separation vessel 23 in whichthis auxiliary fluid in gaseous form is separated from absorption liquidsaturated with cooling agent; and a condenser in which the auxiliaryfluid is liquefied and from which it passes back to its generator. Withthe other cooperating media above designated,

the auxiliary fluid may consistof butane.

In operation:

Strong absorption liquid, rich in ammonia, passes from the absorber intoconduit 21 and is mixed with the auxiliary fluid in the form of liquidpassing into conduit 21 from copduit 26. Thus there is a si muitaneousintroduction of three (or possubstances into coil 22. The auxiliary uidbeing more readily volatilized than the ammonia solution, bubbles of vaor of the auxiliary fluid are formed in coil 22, which bubbles serve todecrease the head of liquid in the up-leg of conduit 21 and thereresults a lifting of fluid from absorber 18 to as separation vessel 23.In this operation t e ammonia is not expelled from solution or isexpelled to but a small degree. In vessel 23 the auxiliary fluidseparates from the ammonia solution due to gravity. The strong liquorflows throu h conduit 24 into generator 10 in which t e cooling agent isexpelled from the absorption liquid while the auxiliary fluid passes ingaseous ,form down through conduit 26, in the lower part of which it iscondensed.

The auxiliary fluid may be of nature entirely independent of the coolingagent, though this is not necessary.

In the arrangement shown in Fi 2 a local auxiliary circulation is used werein absorption takes the place of the condensation occurring in thelower part of conduit 26 of Fig. 1. Reference character 30 designates anauxiliary absorber which is connected to absorber 18 by means of conduit31. Conduit 32 here takes the place of conduit 26 and opens into thelower part of auxiliary absorber 30. Auxiliary absorber 30 is connectedto conduit 21 by means of a conduit 33. Except for these parts thearrangement shown in Fig. 2 is the same as that of Fig. 1.

In the operation of this modification, the auxiliary fluid is expelledfrom solution in coil 22 and serves to lift cooling agent solution intovessel 23. The auxiliary fluid should be so chosen that it is expelledfrom the absorption liquid at a lower temperature than that at whichthe. cooling agent is expelled. There is thus a separation of onesubstance from the absorption liquid in coil 22 and a later separationof a second substance from the absorption liquid in the generator properat a higher degree of temperature. The process is therefore akin todistillation. In vessel 23 the auxiliary fluid is separated and passesthrou h conduit 32 into auxiliary absorber 30 w ere it is absorbed bythe absorption liquid entering thereinto from conduit 31.

As fluids adaptable for use with the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, thecooling agent may consist of methylamine; the aux iliary pressureequalizing gas may be hydrogen; the absorption liquid may be water andthe auxiliary fluid in the local circulation circuit between thegenerator and absorber may consist of ammonia. In this case theoperation will not be as distinct as might be assumed from the abovedescription which has been designed for sake of clearness. Somemethylamine will be entrained with the ammonia in the local circulationand some of the ammonia will be entrained with the methylamine in themain circuit of circulation. This however does not alter the principleand, nevertheless, an effective process of refrigeration will beobtained.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, the auxiliary absorber is omittedand conduit 32 is directly connected with conduit 21 at a point betweenabsorber 18 and coil 22, preferabl before conduit 21, after leaving theabsor er, enters into heat exchange relation with conduit 19.

It will be readily apparent that the condensing or liquefying portion ofconduit 26 of Fig. 1 and the auxiliary absorber 30 have a commonfunction, namely, to treat the auxiliary fluid after its vaporization toadapt it to subsequent vaporlzation again. In either case the auxiliaryfluid is expanded by heat in coil 22 and must, therefore, be contractedto adapt it to re-expansion. In each case the auxiliary fluid is treatedto confine a given number of its molecules to a smaller space beforevaporization. In other words, the auxiliary fluid is densified or shrunkin condenser 27 of Fig. 1 and in auxiliary absorber 30 of Fig. 2. Itwill be apparent that this common terminology also ap lies to thearrangement of Fi 3.

t will be obvious that various ilepartures on i m be made-from thearrangements herein shown and that other apparati may be built whichfall within the terms of the invention.

description that an arrcarrying absorption liquid from 'thegengenerator, an a sor medium contained therein, to aflo erator to theabsorber. Such an arran ement may be used in combination with t emodifications above described wherein the auxiliary fluid is introducedinto the conduit extending from the absorber to the generator. This mayinvolve a rearrangement of the enerator and absorber, which matter willapparent to one skilled in the art.

What claim is:

1. Refrigerating a aratus comprising a generator, an absorber acondenser, an evaporator, a conduit ior conducting absorption liquidfrom said absorber toqsaid generator, eating means for said conduit,means to introduce an auxiliary fluid into said conduit between saidabsorber and said heating mbans and means to remove gas from theabsorption liquid at a place in said conduit betweensaid heatingmeansand said nerator;

2. Refrigeratin a paratus comprising'a r, [a condenser, an evaporator, acondiiit for conducting absorption 1i aid from said absorber tosaid.

generator, eating means for said conduit and means to withdraw fluid.from said conduit between said heating means and said generator and tore-introducethe'fluid withdrawn into the conduit between the absorberand the heating means.

3. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a main generator for ex elling acoolin agent from solution in an a sorption 1i ui therein, a condenserfor condensing te cooling agent, an evaporator for; evaporating thecooling agent, a main absorber for absorbing the cooling agent, anauxiliary generator, anauxiliary absorber, a gas separation vessel, andconnections between the aforementioned elements to afford a major cycleof circulation for the cooling agentthrough and between the maingenerator, the condenser, the evaporator and the main absorber,to'afl'ord a local cycle of circulation between and through the mainabsorber and the evaporator for a pressure ualiz'ing a local cycle ofcirculation between and through t e auxiliary generator, the maingenerator, the gas separation vessel and the main abthe auxiliary fluidsorber for absorption liquid, and to afford 0a a local cycle ofcirculation between and through the auxiliary generator, the asseparation vessel and the auxiliary absor er for an auxiliaryfluidcontained therein adapted to be expelled in gaseous form fromsolution in the absorption liquid at a lower degree of temperature thanthe cooling agent. Y

4. Refrigerating apparatus com rising a main generatonan absorber, a conenser an evaporator, an upwardly extending conduit for absorption liquidconnected to said generator and connected to said absorber, an auxiliarygenerator interposed in said conduit, means to introduce an auxiliaryfluid into said conduit below said auxiliary generator and means toremove gas from said conduit above said auxiliary generator.

5. Refrigerating apparatus com rising a main generator, an absorber, acon enser, an evaporator, an upwardly extending conduit for absorptionliquid connected to 'said generator, and connected to said absorber, anauxiliar generator interposed in said conduit an means to-withdraw fluidfrom said conduit at a higher level than said auxiliary generator and toreintroduce the fluid withdrawn into the conduit ata'lower level thansaid auxiliary generator.

6. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a main generator for expelling acoohn agent from solution in an absorption li ui there- 1n,;a condenserfor condensing t e cooling agent, an evaporator for evaporating thecooling agent, an absorber forabsorbing the cooling agent, anauxiliary'generator, a gas separation vessel, and connections betweenthe afore-mentioned elements to afford a major cycle of circulation forthe cooling agent through and between the main generator, the condenser,the evaporator andthe absorber, to afl'ord a local c cleof circulationbetween and through t e absorber.

and the evaporator for a pressure equalizing medium contained therein,to-aflord a local cycle of circulation between and through thc auxiliarygenerator, the main generator, the gas separation vessel and theabsorber for absorption liquid and to aiford a local cycle ofcirculation between and through the Mix iliar generator and the gasseparation'vessel or an auxiliary fluid contained therein adapted to beex elled in gaseous form from solution in the a I degree of temperaturethan thatat which 7 the cooling agent is expelled from solution.

7. That improvement in the artof refrigerating through the agency ofageneratorcondenser-evaporator-absorber cycle which consists inintroducing into the absorption liquid an auxiliary adapted' to bevaporized in the presence-of the absorption liquid at a lowertemperature than the cool rption liquid at a lower v crease in densityand withdrawing the va or ing agent, heating the absorption liquid andadded .auxiliary fluid to vaporize the auxiliary fluid and thus decreasethe density of the absorption liquid and added auxiliary fluid, producincirculation of theabsorption liquid un er the influence of thedeabsorbed by the absorption liquid and to be between the generator anto expelled from the absorption liquid in gaseous form at a lowertemperature than the cooling agent, heating the absorption liquid andvaporizing the auxiliary fluid, and separating the vapor of theauxiliary fluid from the absorption liquid before the absorption liquidpasses into the generator.

9. The method of moving an absorption liquid containing volatile fluidin solution within a circuit which comprises introducing into thecircuit an auxiliary fluid capable of being absorbed by the absorptionliquid and capable of being expelled from the absorption liquid ingaseous form at a lower temperature than that at which thefirst-mentioned volatile fluid is expelled from the absorption liquid,heating the absorption liquid containing the first-mentioned fluid andthe auxiliary fluid to vaporize the auxilia fluid but not thefirst-mentioned fluid and t us to decrease the density of the addedfluids, ro ducing circulation under the influence o the decreaseof,density, se arating the gaseous auxiliary fluid from t e absorptionliquid containing the first-mentioned volatile fluid, and reabsorbingand reintroducing the auxiliary fluid into the circuit to again beheated and transferred to gaseous form.

10. That step in'refrigerating through the agency of agenerator-condenser-evaporator -c c-le which consists in movingabsorption hquid laden with a coolin agent in circuit absorber bvaporization of an auxiliary fluid capab e of rvolatilization in thepresence of the absorption 1i uid at a different temperature than thecoo ing agent.

11. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a agent from condenser forcondensing the cooling agent, an evaporator for evaporating the coolingagent, an absorber for absorbing the cooling agent, an auxiliary memberfor contracting a gaseous fluid to adapt it for subsequent expansion, agas separation vessel and connections between the aforementionedelements -to afford a major cycle of circulation for the ford a localcycle of circulation between and J through the gas separation vesseland'the auxiliar member for an auxiliary fluid contained t erein.

12. That improvement in the art of refrigcrating through the agency of aeneratorcondenser-evaporator-absorber cyc e having a local circuit ofcirculation for absorption liquid containing a cooling agent in solutionbetween the generator and absorber which consists in introducing intothe absorption liquid in the local cycle an aux- ,iliary fluid'adaptedto be-vaporized in the presence of the absorption liquid at a lowertemperature than the temperature at which the cooling agent is vaporizedby-being expelled from the absorption liquid, heating the absorptionliquid and auxiliary fluid to vaporize the auxiliar fluid and thusdecrease the density of t e added fluids within the cycle, producingcirculation of the absorption liquid under the influence of the decreasein density, withdrawing the vapor of the auxiliary fluid, shrinking theauxiliary fluid to adaptgit for subsequent vaporization andreintr'oducing the auxiliary fluid into the cycle td again becomevaporized.

13. The method of moving an absorption liquid containing a volatilefluid in solution within a circuit which com rises introducing into thecircuit an auxi iary fluid, said auxiliary fluid being capable ofvolatilization in the presence of the absorption liquid at a lower'temperaturethan that at which the first mentioned volatile fluidvolatilized in the resence of the absorption liquid, heating t e mixtureof fluids thus produced to'vaporize the auxilia fluid and to decreasethe density of the ad ed fluids, roducing circulation underthe influenceo the decrease of densit separatin the yolatilized auxiliary fluifrom'the a rption uid containing the first mentioned flu: treating theauxiliary fluid thus separated to adapt it to subsequent vaporizationand reintroducing the auxiliary'fluid into the circuit to again becomevaporized.

14. The method of moving an absorpt on liquid containing a volatileflu1d m solution within a circuit whichcomprises introducing into thecircuit an auxili fluid in liqui form said auxiliary fluid ing capableof .volatilization in'the presence of-the absorption liquid at a lowertemperature than that at which the first mentioned volatile fluid isvolatilized in the presence of the absorption liquid, heating themixture of fluids thus produced to vaporize the auxiliar fluid and 6 todecrease the density of the a dad fluids producing circulation under theinfluence o the decrease of densit separating the volatilized auxiliaryflui from the absorption liquid containing the first mentioned volatilefluid, densifying the auxiliary fluid thus separated and reintroducingthe auxiliary fluid into the circuit to again become vaporized.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature. Y

' CARL GEORG MUNTERS.

